Bruce and Amy Shapiro commissioned this hand painted fireplace mural surround

to be installed in the gentleman's study of their Federal style antique weekend house

nestled in the hills of northwestern Connecticut.  This adaptation of an ancient fifteenth

century map, painted on six inch square tiles, includes their family history set down in

Latin and the names of the members of their family who live in the house. 

Shown here is the finished mural laid out on the floor in preparation for the installation.

              The installer has set out his tools and prepared the fireplace wall to make sure that

              everything fits as it should.  There is to be a bullnose edge around the opening

              and the scroll design will fold so that half of it is at a right angle on the inside surface.

He keeps track of his measurements every inch of the way.

It's almost finished. Tomorrow he'll install the tiles on the inside of the opening

and apply the grout. 

The glaze has been mottled to give the appearance of old parchment and the details have been adapted from those on the ancient mariners' maps. 

If you look closely you'll see enormous sea monsters and galleons in full majestic sail on the open seas.

                                                                                                                          The design wraps around the bullnosed  corner and covers the interior wall of the fireplace.

THE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE AND THE ROOM IS FINISHED.

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